Chapter 10 : A Mother's Dilemma

Maxwell's eyes narrowed as he dropped the call, his mind still racing with the traitor's intel. He had barely enough time to process the information before his comms device beeped again, this time with a summons from Adrian.

"Maxwell, report to Adrian's chambers immediately," the message read.

Maxwell's gut told him something was off. Adrian didn't summon him unless it was urgent. He made his way to Adrian's chambers.

As he entered the dimly lit room, Adrian's cold gaze met his. "Maxwell, what do you know about Anthony?" He queried.

"I don't know much but my source believes he's looking for his mother who is rumoured to be in this empire" Maxwell said.

Hmm, who could be Anthony's mother and what does Anthony have to do with his own mother, Sophia? Adrian wondered.

Go on Maxwell, find out whatever you can about Anthony and his connection to my mom, she seems to know him.

"I will take care of it, Adrian". Maxwell bowed as he made his way out of the room.

As Maxwell departed, Adrian's thoughts lingered on Sophia, his mother. She had always been secretive about her past, but Adrian had noticed a faint hint of recognition in her eyes when Anthony's name was mentioned.

What was the connection between Sophia and Anthony? And how did it relate to Damon's empire?

Adrian's comms device beeped again, this time with a message from Damon "Adrian, we need to talk. Meet me in the east wing."

Adrian's curiosity piqued, he made his way to the east wing, wondering what he possibly wanted to talk about.

As Adrian entered the east wing, Damon's imposing figure awaited him, his eyes gleaming with an unsettling intensity.

"Adrian, I've received disturbing news," Damon began, his voice low and menacing. "Anthony, the son of Marcus, has formed an alliance with Jax from Khalid's empire. They're searching for something, or someone."

Adrian's mind raced with the implications. "What could they possibly want?"

Damon's gaze narrowed. "I suspect they're after Sophia, your mother. She's been hiding secrets, Adrian. Secrets that could topple our empire."

Adrian's eyes widened, his thoughts reeling with the revelation. Sophia, his mother, was hiding secrets? What did she know about Anthony and Damon's empire?

"We need to find Anthony and Jax before they uncover the truth," Damon continued, his voice dripping with malice. "Use any means necessary, Adrian. We can't let them threaten our power."

Adrian's gut told him something was off, but he knew better than to defy Damon's orders. He nodded, his mind already racing with strategies to capture Anthony and Jax.

But little did Adrian know, Sophia was watching from the shadows, her eyes fixed on her son with a mix of sadness and determination. She knew the truth, and she was ready to reveal it, no matter the cost.

Sophia's eyes never left Adrian's face as he exited the east wing, her heart heavy with the weight of secrets kept hidden for far too long. She knew Damon's intentions were far from pure, and Adrian was caught in the midst of it all.

With a deep breath, Sophia made her way to her hidden chambers, a place where she had kept her past locked away for years. She opened a small box, revealing a worn-out journal and a faded photograph.

The journal belonged to Marcus, Anthony's father, and the photograph showed a younger Sophia, standing alongside Marcus and a baby Anthony. Tears pricked at the corners of her eyes as she remembered the happy times, the love they shared, and the sacrifices they made to protect their son.

Flashback October 2003

And as for you my dear Sophia... You will make a fine addition to my collection..

That was Damon's last words before his guards took Sophia away and locked her up.

While Sophia was been taken away, on their way she met Marcus.

"Marcus, I don't know what fate has in store for me here". She sobbed.

But I want you to take Anthony far away from everything.

My son doesn't need all these. If you can, run away from Khalid because he wouldn't forgive you if he finds out you betrayed him, Sophia continued .

Make sure Anthony grows well, send him to college. If you can make him forget about me, I don't think I will escape this hell hole. And lastly , hug Anthony for me and tell him....

Sophia was still talking when the guards began dragging her back to cell, "Tell Anthony I love him so much" she struggled to say those last words, before she was successfully dragged in....

Flashback ends....

The photograph fell from her hands, and Sophia knew she could no longer keep the truth hidden. She had to reveal the secrets, no matter the cost, to protect Anthony, Adrian, and the entire empire from Damon's tyranny.

Sophia wiped away the last of her tears, her eyes red and puffy from crying. She took a deep breath, trying to compose herself. Just then, the door to her chambers burst open and Lyra, Damon's agent, stood before her.

"My lady, The overlord summons you to his chambers," Lyra said, her voice cold and detached.

Sophia's heart sank, her mind racing with worst-case scenarios. She knew that Damon's summons could only mean one thing - he had discovered her secrets.

With a heavy heart, Sophia followed Lyra to Damon's chambers, her feet feeling like lead. She knew that her life, and the lives of her sons, hung in the balance.

Sophia's anxiety grew. She could feel her heart pounding in her chest, her palm felt sweaty.

"Ah, Sophia," Damon said, his voice dripping with malice. "I've been waiting for you. You see, I've discovered something interesting about your past.

Sophia's mind raced as Damon's eyes seemed to bore into her soul. She knew that she had to keep her secrets hidden, no matter what.

"What are you talking about, Damon?" she asked, trying to keep her voice steady.

Damon smiled, his eyes glinting with triumph. "I'm talking about your son Sophia. Both of them.

Sophia's heart skipped a beat as she realized what Damon was implying. He knew. He knew about her past, about her son's true identity.

"No," she whispered, her voice barely audible.

Damon's smile grew wider. "Oh, but yes. You see, Sophia, I've been doing some digging. And I've discovered that your son with Marcus is Anthony ." Khalid's new recruit, and you are making plans to tell Adrian.

Sophia's eyes widened in horror as Damon's words hung in the air, like a sword of Damocles, ready to strike.

"Sophia, I know you've been keeping secrets," Damon sneered. "Secrets about Anthony, Marcus, and your past. I warn you, never breathe a word of this to Adrian. If you do, it will cost you the lives of both Anthony, Adrian and Marcus."

Sophia's eyes widened, fear gripping her heart. She knew Damon was capable of unspeakable cruelty.

"I understand," she whispered, her voice trembling.

Damon's smile grew wider. "Good. I knew you'd see things my way. You'll keep your secrets, and I'll keep yours. For now."

Sophia nodded, her mind racing with the implications. She knew she had to protect her sons, no matter the cost. But she also knew that she couldn't keep the truth hidden forever. The secrets she kept would eventually unravel, and the consequences would be devastating.

With a heavy heart, Sophia left Damon's chambers, knowing that she was trapped in a web of lies and deceit. But she vowed to find a way to reveal the truth, no matter the danger, to set her sons free from Damon's tyranny.

*

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Sophia's mind raced as she left Damon's chambers, her heart heavy with the weight of secrets and lies. She knew she had to act fast, to protect her sons and uncover the truth about Damon's empire. She couldn't do it alone, but she knew someone who could help her.

With a newfound determination, Sophia made her way to find Francis her trusted ally and friend. She found him in the training hall, throwing punch at the punching bag with precision and power.

"Francis," Sophia said, her voice low and urgent. "I need your help. I can't keep the truth hidden anymore."

Francis's eyes narrowed, his hands pausing mid-air. "What truth, my lady? What secrets are you keeping?"

Sophia took a deep breath, her words spilling out in a rush. "Anthony, Marcus, my past... it's all connected, Francis. And Damon's empire is not what it seems."

Francis's eyes widened, "Tell me everything," he said, his voice firm and resolute.

And with that, Sophia knew she had found an ally, a friend who would stand by her side no matter the danger. Together, they would uncover the truth, and bring down Damon's empire once and for all.

*

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*

Maxwell has just finished taking his bath when he heard a knock from the door. "Maxwell, the overlord seeks your presence at his chambers " Lyra's voiced out from the door.

Right away, Maxwell answered, as he quickly wore his clothes and made his way to Damon's chambers.

"Maxwell, I've received information that Adrian is seeking answers," Damon said, his eyes narrowing.

"Yes, my lord," Maxwell replied, bowing his head. "Adrian is curious about Anthony and his connection to Sophia."

Damon's gaze intensified. "I warn you, Maxwell, do not reveal anything to Adrian. He must not know the truth about Sophia's past or Anthony's true identity."

Maxwell nodded, his heart racing. "I understand, my lord. Your secrets are safe with me."

Damon's smile was cold and calculating. "Good. I knew I could trust you, Maxwell. Keep Adrian in the dark, and make sure he doesn't get too close to the truth."

Maxwell bowed, his mind racing with the implications. He knew that Damon's secrets were dangerous, and that Adrian's curiosity could put them all in danger. But he also knew that he had to obey Damon's orders, no matter how difficult it may be.